ID :
117808
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 14:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/117808
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Islands issue will always mar relations with Iran, says UAE Foreign Minister
Abu Dhabi, April 21, 2010 (WAM)- UAE Foreign Minister H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has stressed that the issue of the three UAE's islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, still under Iranian occupation, will always be a "negative factor" in bilateral relations between the two countries and "painful thing for all the UAE nationals." The Minister was answering questions by members of the Federal National Council, FNC, during its session yesterday t discuss the Foreign Ministry's policies.
"Occupation of any Arab land is occupation and is not a misunderstanding. Israeli occupation of Golan Heights, Southern Lebanon, West Bank or Gaza is called occupation and no Arab land is dearer than another," Sheikh Abdullah said.
"It would be self-lie, for any Emarati, including me, to pretend that they are less sensitive about the fact that a part of the UAE is occupied than about another occupied Arab land." Sheikh Abdullah said he was not holding comparisons between Israel and Iran, "however, occupation is occupation and is unlawful, according to Arab traditions, Islam and the international community." "Iran takes an adamant position on the issue of the three islands rejecting all the initiatives put forward by the UAE to reach a solution either through direct dialogue or international arbitration, Sheikh Abdullah added.
The Minister called on the UAE nationals to "think differently to help their brothers who live on the Islands and Abu Musa Island in particular "because it is almost impossible to maintain contact with them under the Iranian occupation which does allow Israel does not allow assistance, building materials and other services into the islands." He further blamed the local media for not highlighting the conditions of those UAE nationals on the three said Islands.
"Occupation of any Arab land is occupation and is not a misunderstanding. Israeli occupation of Golan Heights, Southern Lebanon, West Bank or Gaza is called occupation and no Arab land is dearer than another," Sheikh Abdullah said.
"It would be self-lie, for any Emarati, including me, to pretend that they are less sensitive about the fact that a part of the UAE is occupied than about another occupied Arab land." Sheikh Abdullah said he was not holding comparisons between Israel and Iran, "however, occupation is occupation and is unlawful, according to Arab traditions, Islam and the international community." "Iran takes an adamant position on the issue of the three islands rejecting all the initiatives put forward by the UAE to reach a solution either through direct dialogue or international arbitration, Sheikh Abdullah added.
The Minister called on the UAE nationals to "think differently to help their brothers who live on the Islands and Abu Musa Island in particular "because it is almost impossible to maintain contact with them under the Iranian occupation which does allow Israel does not allow assistance, building materials and other services into the islands." He further blamed the local media for not highlighting the conditions of those UAE nationals on the three said Islands.
